10. BANTA, S. E. Buckelew, the Indian Captive,
or the Life Story of F. M. Bucklew [sic] while a
Captive among the Lipan [Apache] Indians in the
Western Wilds of Frontier Texas. Mason: Mason Herald,
[1911]. 112 pp., photographic plate of Mr. and Mrs. F. M.
Buckelew. 12mo, upper and lower grey printed wrappers
trimmed and mounted on later grey cloth. Some mild to
moderate staining of covers and inner blank margins of
first few leaves. Very good copy of an exceedingly rare
work.
First
edition. Eberstadt, Texas 162:96: "Printed in an
edition thought to have been limited to only 50 copies; we
have not seen another copy in many years." Not in Ayer,
Graff, Streeter, or other sales. Howes B108. Pingenot: A
fine copy in original wrappers sold from my Cat. 2 for
$2,000. Better known by T. S. Dennis’s Life of F.
M. Buckelew, The Indian Captive, a 1925 book written by
his daughter, which relates the capture of 14-year-old
Buckelew by Apache Indians near Sabinal, in southwest Texas
in 1866. He was taken to San Carlos near San Vicente in the
Big Bend, and held captive for about a year until he
managed to escape. Aided by a friendly rancher, he was
taken to Fort Clark where curious officers, their wives,
and soldiers viewed him as a curiosity. In this, the
original work, Buckelew relates his adventures in the first
person, aided by S. E. Banta.
($1,000-3,000)